Changes

After the Roman empire fell in the A.D. 400s there was the possibility that all of the achievements of the classical civilizations, including much of their knowledge, would be lost.  Who would preserve the geometry discoveries of Euclid, or the philosophical advances of Plato and Aristotle?  Who would maintain copies of the Gospels to preserve the teachings of Jesus?  Who would safeguard history books?

After the Roman empire fell in the A.D. 400s there was the possibility that all of the achievements of the classical civilizations, including much of their knowledge, would be lost.  Who would preserve the geometry discoveries of Euclid, or the philosophical advances of Plato and Aristotle?  Who would maintain copies of the Gospels to preserve the teachings of Jesus?  Who would safeguard history books?

The period from the 5th to the 8th century (A.D. 400s through 700s) is known as the “Dark Ages” in western Europe.  Everything seemed to decline and nothing outstanding seemed to emerge.  Rome was sacked (invaded and looted) three times during this period, for example.  Barbaric tribes terrorized everyone.  The culture and economy declined.  Roads and waterways fell into disrepair.  The western world was at risk of losing all its knowledge and advances.

The period from the 5th to the 8th century is remembered by historians as a particularly bleak time, when havoc and barbarians "ruled".  This period, A.D. 400s through 700s, known as the "Dark Ages" in western Europe.  Everything visible and cultural seemed to decline, and nothing outstanding seemed to emerge.  Rome was sacked (invaded and looted) three times during this period, for example.  Barbaric tribes terrorized everyone.  The culture and economy declined.  Roads and waterways fell into disrepair.  The western world was at risk of losing all its knowledge and advances.

===Monasteries===

===Monasteries===

Historians credit Christian monasteries for preserving culture and knowledge during these “dark” times.  The monasteries were communities of monks, usually male, who had committed the rest of their lives to God.  They often moved apart so that they could be by themselves and pray many times a day.  While not praying, the monks would read and write and teach, and they preserved the knowledge and history that might otherwise have been lost.

Historians credit Christian monasteries for preserving culture and knowledge during these "dark" times.  The monasteries were communities of Christian monks, usually male, who had committed the rest of their lives to God.  They often moved apart so that they could be by themselves and pray many times a day.  While not praying, the monks would read and write and teach, and they preserved the knowledge and history that might otherwise have been lost.

The most famous of these “orders” or communities was one established by St. Benedict in Italy in about A.D. 520.  His “Rule of St. Benedict” is a strict set of disciplinary guidelines that require giving away all of one’s possessions and vowing obedience to the “abbot”, a monk elected to supervise the others.  The Rule included other requirements also, such a vow of stability (promise not to move somewhere else), and stressed the importance of prayer and manual labor (“ora et labora”).  St. Benedict had a sister, St. Scholastica, who established a similar rule for nuns to live by.

The most famous of these "orders" or communities was one established by St. Benedict in Italy in about A.D. 520.  His "Rule of St. Benedict" is a strict set of disciplinary guidelines that require giving away all of one's possessions and vowing obedience to the "abbot", a monk elected to supervise the others.  The Rule included other requirements also, such a vow of stability (promise not to move somewhere else), and stressed the importance of prayer and manual labor ("ora et labora").  St. Benedict had a sister, St. Scholastica, who established a similar rule for devout, unmarried women (nuns) to live by.

Abiding by strict rules of discipline and living separate from society, monks had no distractions.  So they established schools and libraries, and transcribed or copied great works that needed to be preserved and duplicated (the printing press was not invented until about A.D. 1440).  Venerable Bede, an English monk, wrote a history of England in A.D. 731 that is considered a masterpiece.

Abiding by strict rules of discipline and living separate from society, monks had no distractions.  So they established schools and libraries, and transcribed or copied great works that needed to be preserved and duplicated (the printing press was not invented until about A.D. 1440).  Venerable Bede, an English monk, wrote a history of England in A.D. 731 that is considered a masterpiece.

Monasteries continue to exist to this day.  There is a Benedictine monastery only fifteen minutes away from our classroom in Morristown, New Jersey, known as “Delbarton”.  These monks still abide by the same Rule that St. Benedict established in A.D. 520.

Monasteries continue to exist to this day.  There is a Benedictine monastery only fifteen minutes away from our classroom in Morristown, New Jersey, known as "Delbarton".  These monks still abide by the same Rule that St. Benedict established in A.D. 520, though monks today do not have to copy long books anymore!

===Britain, King Arthur and the Anglo-Saxons===

===Britain, King Arthur and the Anglo-Saxons===

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much of the legend of King Arthur has a factual basis, if any.

As the Roman empire was collapsing in the A.D. 400s, it withdrew from Britain.  In the view of some, the legend of King Arthur dates to this time, when a hero named Ambrosius Aurelianus emerged for the British people.  But no one knows how much, if any, of the legend of King Arthur is factual.

Who were the British people at that time?  The “Anglo-Saxons”, who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The “Anglo-Saxons” were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The “Picts” were another group of people who settled Scotland at this time.  The greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler was Alfred the Great, who defended Britain from Viking attacks in the A.D. 800s.

Who were the British people at that time?  The "Anglo-Saxons", who were Germanic tribes that conquered England and ruled it in a chaotic manner until the Norman conquest of A.D. 1066 brought order and prosperity to the entire island.  The "Anglo-Saxons" were actually a mixture of three different Germanic peoples:  the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.  The "Picts" were another group of people who settled Scotland at this time.  The greatest Anglo-Saxon ruler was Alfred the Great, who defended Britain from Viking attacks in the A.D. 800s.

Pope Gregory the Great send Augustine of Canterbury to convert Britain to Christianity in A.D. 596, and English monks and nuns helped that effort in the centuries that followed.   

Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury to convert Britain to Christianity in A.D. 596, and English monks and nuns helped that effort in the centuries that followed.   

===Charlemagne and the Carolingian Court===

===Charlemagne and the Carolingian Court===

Small Germanic kingdoms dominated western Europe after the fall of the Roman empire.  But Christianity continued to grow, and the Catholic Church based in Rome increased its power.  Bit by bit, person by person, the Germans were converted to become Catholics.  Clovis, the leader of a German group known as “Franks”, ruled over the important area of Gaul that corresponds to modern France and portions of its surroundings.  His wife Clotilda converted Clovis to Catholicism, and then Clovis converted his entire army too.  The pope then supported Clovis and he became even more powerful.  This was how the Roman Catholic Church interacted with military rulers.

Small Germanic kingdoms dominated western Europe after the fall of the Roman empire.  But Christianity continued to grow, and in Rome the Catholic Church based increased its power.  Bit by bit, person by person, the Germans were converted to become Catholics.  Clovis, the leader of a German group known as "Franks", ruled over the important area of Gaul that corresponds to modern France and portions of its surroundings.  His wife Clotilda converted Clovis to Catholicism, and then Clovis converted his entire army too.  The pope then supported Clovis and he became even more powerful.  This was how the Roman Catholic Church interacted with military rulers.

One of the most significant popes was Gregory the Great (Gregory I) (A.D. 540-604).  He decided to use church money for non-religious (secular) purposes, such as establishing government programs for the poor (welfare), supporting armies, and paying for public projects such as roads.  Pope Gregory blurred the lines between church and state, which became known as the “temporal power” of the Catholic Church, and this would become a source of enormous conflict in future centuries.

One of the most significant popes was Gregory the Great (Gregory I) (A.D. 540-604).  He decided to use church money for non-religious (secular) purposes, such as establishing government programs for the poor (welfare), supporting armies, and paying for public projects such as roads.  Pope Gregory blurred the lines between church and government.  The use of church power in non-religious matters became known as the "temporal power" of the Catholic Church, and this would become a source of enormous conflict in future centuries.

   

   

Gaul was the most significant part of the former Roman empire, and many terms come from it.  “Major domo,” for example, is the term for the major of the palace, which in Gaul was the most powerful person in the kingdom.

Gaul (now France) became the most significant part of the former Roman empire, and many terms come from it.  "Major domo," for example, is the term for the major of the palace, which in Gaul was the most powerful person in the kingdom.

From Gaul a leader emerged named Charles Martel, who ruled the Franks from A.D. 719-741 and extended their territory.  He crushed the Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours in 732 (see above).  His son had the humorous name “Pepin the Short,” but he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the “Donation of Pepin,” laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin’s family were the Carolingian dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

From Gaul a leader emerged named Charles Martel (popularly known as "Charles the Hammer").  He ruled the Franks from A.D. 719-741 and, as his nickname suggests, he expanded he territory.  He was the one who saved Christian Europe by crushing the Muslim invasion at the Battle of Tours in 732 (see above).   

 

Charles' son had the humorous name "Pepin the Short."  Despite the name, he was also a brilliant leader of the Franks.  Pepin conquered territory around Rome and then gave it as a gift to the pope.  The pope returned the favor with the "Donation of Pepin," laying the foundation for the Papal States, which were territories under the control of the pope.  Charles Martel and Pepin's family were the Carolingian dynasty that ruled the Franks from 751 all the way to 987.

Pepin’s son (and Charles Martel’s grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name “Charlemagne” (SHAR-luh-MAIN) is from the Latin “Carolus Magnum,” which means “Charles the Great.”  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the “missi dominici” (king’s officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Pepin’s son (and Charles Martel’s grandson) was Charlemagne (A.D. 742-814), who became the most famous member of the family.  The name “Charlemagne” (SHAR-luh-MAIN) is from the Latin “Carolus Magnum,” which means “Charles the Great.”  He conquered the territory once held by the Roman empire in his attempt to reestablish it; he educated children in palace schools; and he created the “missi dominici” (king’s officials) to watch over his empire.  His revival of education became known as the Carolingian Renaissance, a brief period of progress or light in what is otherwise criticized as the Dark Ages.   

Civil war caused decline in the Inca empire in 1525, when ruler Huayna Capac died and his two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar, fought.  Although Atahualpa won, his empire was weakened and he was no match for the Spaniards when they arrived from Europe.

Civil war caused decline in the Inca empire in 1525, when ruler Huayna Capac died and his two sons, Atahualpa and Huascar, fought.  Although Atahualpa won, his empire was weakened and he was no match for the Spaniards when they arrived from Europe.

[[Category:World History lectures]]

[[Category:World History lectures]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:World History Lecture 05}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World History Lecture 05}}